League offers chess lessons
Madison City Chess League will host “Learn to Play Chess Night” on Sept. 17 at Madison Elementary School. The session is free. Students in the photo are competing at the 2015 North Alabama Team Scholastic Tournament at James Clemens High School. (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – Youth who want to understand the game can attend “Learn to Play Chess Night,” a free event on Sept. 17 at Madison Elementary School, 17 College St.
Madison City Chess League is conducting their second annual “Learn to Play Chess Night” for a dual purpose. Newcomers to the game can familiarize themselves with the fundamentals of play, while experienced players can volunteer to help in tutoring the new recruits.
This free session will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Volunteers should arrive by 5:30 p.m., league executive director Ranae Bartlett said. Noel Newquist, chess coach at Heritage and Mill Creek elementary schools, and Undrea Randolph, Madison elementary’s coach, will lead the instruction.
Chess night will target newcomers who have never played, those who have played but don’t understand movement of all pieces and those youth who “know the basics but don’t know special moves, such as Castling or En Passant,” Bartlett said.
Parents should stay for the event and can sit with their child or join other parents in the school library where Bartlett will lead a session on ways to help children develop their chess skills online and in the Madison community.
Student volunteers should be at least 10 years old, have competed in tournaments, have one year of experience, be familiar with all rules of chess and be “in good standing with their school’s competition chess team,” Bartlett said.
“Adult volunteers may be placed as section-helpers to answer questions that student volunteers may have,” Bartlett said.
Both participants and students volunteers must register online by visiting madisonchess.com/learn-to-play-2015.
For more information about Madison City Chess League, email to mccl.director@gmail.com or visit madisonchess.com.
